Valve for safety inner tubes and the like



June 13, 1944. F. A. KRUSEMARK VALVE FOR SAFETY INNER TUBES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. '7, 1940 lili,

'llllllll/ Patented June 13, 1944 ESS PATENT OFFICE vALvEroRsAFETY INNER TUBES AND l Y'rmi LIKE UNITED STAT Claims;

This invention hasto do with valvesused in inflating the multiple chambers of a safety inner'tub'e or the like.

In inflating inner tubes having Ymultiple'air chambers, it is necessary onA the popular brands on the market today to force the air into one chamber, which I designate as inner air charnber,4 and provide an opening or port from the inner air chamber into each of the other air chambers. In past constructions, it is generally (although there are exceptions) necessary to provide a restricted opening between the two air chai'nbers, with a metal grommet or other means for maintaining the restriction.

For the reason that itis desirable to limit the ow of air from the inner chamber to each of the outer chambers when there is a failure of an outer chamber and loss of air therefrom caused by a blowout or similar accident, the opening between the inner air chamber and the outer air chambers hasheretofore been very restricted, and air has only been permitted to pass slowly from the inner air chamber to the outer air chamber. Upon ination at a servicerstation, where such an arrangement is present, the pressure in the inner air chamber is rapidly'built up to that desired or more, and the outer air chamber does not have the pressure rapidly built up therein and consequently there is considerable .differential for a considerable period of time. As a result, it is difficult to regulate the amount of air pressure in the tube and this is particularly true if timedoes not permit the operator to let the vehicle stand until the pressure in all air chambers is equallzed. This differential in pressure which is usually present is very objectionable and may result among other things, in tire failure or in rough riding of the vehicle upon which the inner tube is mounted.

It is the object of the present invention to provide 'a means wherein the inner air chamber and the outer air chamber are inated under rapidly equalizing arrangement, so that there is no appreciable wait before a testing ofthe air pressure by applying a gauge to the inflation valve indicates the correct air pressure in the inner tube.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means whereby some air is conducted directly into the outer air chamber (I will hereafter refer to the air chambers other than the inner air chamber as being outer air chamber whether one or a plurality of such chambers is present) without entering the inner airchamber, at the same time and from the same inlet valve as I use to inflate the inner air chamber. 1

' It is the further object of the present'invention to provide a valve arrangement which equalizes the air between the two chambers under normal operating conditions but which will restrict the flow from the inner air chamber to the outer air chamber when there is a failure of the outer air chamber. j

A further object of the present invention is to provide a valve means which is easily built into the tube when the tube is manufactured, is preferably comprised of materials readily available at a tirer factory, and in fact 4which may be identical with the materials used in the construction of the tube or of tires generally. It is the further object to provide a construction which'is relatively simple, is inexpensive, and which will operate satisfactorily under ordinary' conditions of usage normally necessary for suchtypes of inner tubes. 5 v

Another object of this invention is to provide a structure which maybe readily deflated for removal from a rim or for other reasons. In this connection, the majorityy if notall of the safety tubes now on the marketare difficult to deflate, particularly where there is la slow leal: or it is necessary to remove the tire for'some reason from the car. l

It is an object of this invention to provide a valve which readily transmits the pressure from an outer air chamber upon deflation of the inner air chamber upon removal of the closure in the inlet valve of a tube, so that the tube is rapidly deflated on such occasion. y 1

Other objects and'advantages of the invention will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially inthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, andy finally pointed out inthe appended claims. i i Y In the drawing- Y n c Figure 1 is a cross sectional view throughy one type of safety inner tube showing one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line `2--2 of Figure '1, looking `in the direction'of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view take onthe line 3-,3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; Y

Figure 4 is a View'smilar to Figure 3, illus-- y trating a modification of my invention; 'and Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 3, but illustrating the modification of Figure 4.

Referring more in detail to the construction shown in the various figures, and particularly to Figure l, I have provided the safety tube I6 having the inner air chamber II and the outer air chamberelgthe vtwo Lair: chambers being sepa-` rated by Lwai/'lnstruture:hereinafter referred to as Wall I3.

5 will be equalized with that of the air in chamber I2 by means of the hole I 'I.

If it is desired to deflate the inner tube for someireason, upon openingthe valve in the inlet valve I5, pressure in the two air chambers will Passing through the wall I3 is a port Ie throughilgwcause the gas to ow through the port I4 and which the outer air chamber isinilated. Preferably attached to the.:s'tructAn-e #of-the inner air chamber I have provided the inlet valve I5 which is the standardvalveon themare.4 lf

.:-.;..material. amber II, andin ket today insofar as its lconstructie cerned.

Within the inner tube air ch position so that one end is "over theinlet end of the inlet valve, I have provided a, stripof maf .i 5

tefrialc rrefervably made of rubber, rubberized fabesortli'esirilar materials. 'I l* ,'Ilhrisstrlpgg material extends over theend of tiiie'ynifefse that` it is between thefinlet port 'm {fe and the-chamber H. Thestnp engagera sienes tothe port I4 in the WanV Ia. material is preferably stitched or r efned to' thewall structure of the nber II, so' that it forms' a conduit ,inlet valve andthe port |41 The will be hereafter referred Ato'as the A bepied that the conduit I6 as shown n f Lg fs linie 2 andV in Figure 3 inl deban, is a @retelygfged'umt ex'ceptfor the port m and tn, fog'fqfv inich hole; Hjfrfnse; passage'frofn finer tr me @enduit` It into the'inner 'air aqerrriigvith the 'further exceptio'njof 'the I @i qujeigrnet shwmieommumjeetng vt ertengr ofthe eenzame le'. Y i rre erbfvthe hole 'l 1 'is peered at of .earthej ieleteelva el and hasepreefeerably, 2 Seriell?? di* aletta. lie Opening ofthe .inlet telve Isf. I-is ff ealthough not absolutely necessary t t U,

oggggfpsfgnnauy equivalent, te met' of' the opernngoi ut einlet valve I5 tomwhich airis acit9, beginner air chamberand the outer airI cham e'r." h i .l u Y I eteiseetitelreeeasible to place, the. Opening, I1 answerer-eateries@ conduit. w. although in is not believeeeeeetale t Place. it. directlrover, theA peq 'rpecie d be seen'l thatwhen air is forced through the valve I into the inner tuba, aportipgneatrleastegfgaid airwillgo throughthe hole ner air chamber, and another por- L 9 saldi igiwill be trapped in `said conduit lsqicarriedjtp the port I4 where itgoes into tbghquteggigzhamben If the holeIIis smaller thagghginlegipgrtin the inlet valve` I5, some air fealghea iele ralve mustnessarily eoalone the conduit I6 and cannot be stopped because of collapse of said conduit. In 'all probability the dellleelrthalow 0f there .andr the normal CX- pansigioghecfair after being, confined in the inlet valve would cause the conduitV I6 to carry a,l pprtionsfwtbgir to they outer air chamber W5 eilr'rlienQL-the i101@ I7 snaslaree .as the opening intvlgieinletvalve.

fepana the pert'mrhave a. eenbmed' hole II and the inner tube will be rapidly deated.

Vvofthe strip of material, it is understood that it relatesto the arrangement whereby gas is transmittedthrough 2f Channel formed by the strip of Inail probability the conduit I6 will have suftlcientgtensile strength from the materialsy of which it' i's'made to enable it to hold up against a complete collapse even upon failure of the outer air chamber, so that there is a slow ow of gas from said inner chambertosaid outer air chamber even on failurepf thelatter, resulting in letting the tire down gradually as in a slow leak. This is a matter of manufacturing design however. p

In order to present a structure which will insure so'me communication between the inner and outer air chamber at all tim'es and under all conditions of operation, I have provided the modification shown in Figures 4 and 5 consisting of a bead or beads, preferably running lengthwise of said conduit I6, and which hold a portion of said conduit away from the wall of the tube so that n air may always iow along said conduit from the inner air'chamber'throughthe hole I'I, or vice versa,v as vthe case-may be. It is understood that the bead I8` may be in the form of asingle bead on the strip forming the conduit running froml approximately the lhole I'I, and may be attached i to `the strip'of vmaterial or to the side ofthe tube wallhas desired, orl merely be a wire lorobje'ct placed in the channel of the conduit. ,Y

As a matter of fact, the conduit `would work u perfectly well and is intended hereby to apply to f useof a structure inthe form of a tube from the inlet valveito the port I4, provided said tube is built with thehole Il ,or its equivalent. It is not considered as necessary to illustrate such 'a tube because from the description it shouldzbe clear that it could be'substitutedfor' the `cojnduit I6 althoughitwould notbe sojdesirable for' various apparent reasons. jy

The form of jtheinvent'ion 'herein shown and described presents a' preferred embodiment'thereof, and delineates its adaption to practica-inse, but it'vis to'be understood that the vpresent disclosure is"'t'o be considered from the illustrative standpoint and not as imposing'restriction orl'ixnitation on the invention. f While -I-lave hiereirlshown and' described certain ,features ofmy invention, still I do not'wi'sh tojlimit "myself t the claims'.

"I claim:

like having inner and 'outer air chambers, means separating said air chambers comprising a/xlall` prisingfa'n inlet valveor the like, collapsible con-g duit ,mea-nsA from"` said inlet valve to said por't,

said con'duitrneans' comprising a striplo'f r'ub'berl material Awith' 'its'edge portions attached 'tothe ..7 wall'sepa'rating'theairchamberaon the inner air Chamber VSide of said Wall, said Strip `0f rubber' hereto, except as I may do 'so inV 1. Inati'ng means for a safety tube andl the.'

material overlying both the inlet valve and the port a bead means in said conduit, maintaining the conduit against total collapse from a position adjacent to the valve to the hereinafter mentioned opening and port in said conduit, and maintaining communication for the ow of air from one chamber to the other, a hole in said conduit means communicating with one of said air chambers, said hole being of restricted size as compared to the inlet opening from said inlet valve whereby some of the air from said inlet valve in normal inflation operations will be forced through said conduit and port, and the remainder of said air will be forced into the air chamber with which said hole in said conduit communicates said collapsible conduit being normally open and subject to collapse upon a reduction of pressure within the conduit and outer air chamber.

2. Infiating means for a safety tube and the like having inner and outer air chambers, means duit means from said inlet valve to said port, said conduit means comprising a strip of rubber or the like material attached all around its edge portions to the inner air chamber side of the wall between the air chambers, and extending over said inlet valve and port, and forming a conduit therebetween, a hole in said conduit means communicating with one of said air chambers, said hole being of restricted size as compared to the inlet opening from said inlet valve whereby some of the air from said inlet valve in normal innation operations will be forced through said conduit and port, and the remainder of said air will be forced into the air chamber with which said hole in said conduit communicates said collapsible conduit being normally open and subject to collapse upon a reduction of pressure within the conduit and outer air chamber.

3. A safety inner tube comprising an inner air chamber and an outer air chamber and an intervening wall therebetween, an air inlet for said inner air chamber, an aperture in said intervening wall, and valvular means connecting said aperture to said inlet, said valvular means comprising a tubular normally open collapsible conduit exposed exteriorly to air pressure within said inner air chamber and collapsible upon a reduction of pressure within the conduit and said outer air chamber upon failure thereof.

4. A safety inner tube comprising an inner air chamber and an outer air chamber and an intervening wall therebetween, an air inlet for said inner air chamber, an aperture in said intervening wall, and valvular means connecting said aperture to said inlet, said valvular means comprising a tubular normally open flat cross sectioned collapsible conduit formed in part by said intervening wall and having a portion thereof exposed exteriorly to air pressure within said inner air chamber whereby collapse of said conduit is effected upon loss of pressure within the conduit and said outer chamber thereof.

5. A safety inner tube comprising an inner air chamber and an outer air chamber and an intervening wall therebetween, an air inlet for said inner air chamber, an aperture in said intervening wall, and valvular means connecting said aperture to said inlet, said valvular means comprising a tubular normally ilat cross sectioned collapsible conduit formed in part by said intervening wall and having a portion thereof exposed exteriorly to air pressure within said inner air chamber, means for limiting the collapse of said tube to restrict the passage in response to pressure upon said exteriorly exposed portion when pressure within the tube and the outer air chamber falls through failure oi the outer air chamber.

FREDERICK A. KRUSEMARK. 

